No Flight, No Fight Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7371 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7371

     To restrict the air transportation of certain live animals in
      interstate and foreign commerce to enhance aviation safety,
  biosecurity, and operational efficiency in civil aviation, and for
                            other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 4, 2026

    Mr. Nehls (for himself, Ms. Titus, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Carter of
Louisiana, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Buchanan, Mr.
   Gooden, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Ciscomani, Ms. Lofgren, and Mr. Carbajal)
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

     To restrict the air transportation of certain live animals in
      interstate and foreign commerce to enhance aviation safety,
  biosecurity, and operational efficiency in civil aviation, and for
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``No Flight, No Fight Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Civil aviation, including the carriage of cargo by air,
        is critical to the national transportation system and economy
        of the United States.
            (2) The transportation of certain live animals by air,
        particularly adult roosters, presents unique challenges to
        aviation safety, biosecurity, and airline operational
        efficiency, including risks of stress-induced behavior,
        potential disease transmission, and disruptions during flight.
            (3) Rapid air transport of adult roosters has been
        associated with facilitating illegal activities, such as
        cockfighting, which poses additional biosecurity risks through
        unregulated movement of birds that may carry avian diseases.
            (4) Restricting non-essential air shipments of adult
        roosters, while preserving exemptions for large-scale
        commercial poultry operations, will promote safer and more
        efficient air cargo operations without disrupting legitimate
        agricultural supply chains in the commercial egg and meat
        industries.
            (5) The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department
        of Transportation have authority over the safety and regulation
        of civil aviation, including the carriage of cargo by aircraft.

SEC. 3. RESTRICTION ON AIR TRANSPORTATION OF ADULT ROOSTERS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

SEC. 4. RESTRICTION ON AIR TRANSPORTATION OF ADULT ROOSTERS.

    (a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no air
carrier or other person operating an aircraft in interstate or foreign
air transportation shall knowingly transport an adult rooster as cargo.
    (b) Exemption for Commercial Farms.--The prohibition under
subsection (a) shall not apply if--
            (1) the transport of the adult rooster(s) originates from
        or is destined for a commercial farm; and
            (2) the transport is conducted for legitimate agricultural
        purposes.
    (c) Certification.--Any person claiming an exemption under
subsection (b) shall provide documentation certifying that the
originating or destination farm qualifies as a commercial farm,
including financial records or attestations consistent with guidelines
of the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of
Agriculture to the air carrier prior to the transport of the adult
rooster(s). No air carrier may accept an adult rooster for transport
without certification.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Adult rooster.--The term ``adult rooster'' means a male
        chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) that has reached sexual
        maturity, typically characterized by the development of spurs,
        a large comb, and crowing behavior, and is at least 6 months of
        age.
            (2) Air carrier.--The term ``air carrier'' has the meaning
        given such term in section 40102.
            (3) Commercial farm.--The term ``commercial farm'' means
        any farm with $350,000 or more in annual gross cash farm income
        (including sales of crops and livestock, government payments,
        and other farm-related income), as classified by the Economic
        Research Service of the United States Department of
        Agriculture.
            (4) Interstate or foreign air transportation.--The term
        ``interstate or foreign air transportation'' has the meaning
        given the term ``interstate air transportation'' in section
        40102, including transportation in foreign air commerce.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 449 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``44949. Restriction on air transportation of adult roosters''.

SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT.

    The Secretary of Transportation shall enforce this Act and the
amendments made by this Act, in coordination with the Federal Aviation
Administration, and may promulgate such regulations as are necessary to
carry out its provisions. Violations shall be subject to civil
penalties under chapter 463 of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be
construed to preempt any State law that provides greater protections
for aviation safety or imposes stricter restrictions on the air
transportation of live animals.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 180
days after the date of enactment.
                                 <all>